Agenda - 06-05-2012 - 7a - Laserfiche WebLink

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II. TRANSIT PLANNING STEPS LEADING UP TO THIS PLAN 0 Beginning in 2007, a blue- ribbon group of Triangle leaders (the Special Transit Advisory Commission, or STAC) met for over a year and in 2008 unanimously recommended a regional vision for bus and rail investments. One year later, the region's two Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) fully incorporated the STAC recommendations into a long -range (25- year) transportation plan. In August 2009, Governor Beverly Perdue signed into law the Congestion Relief and Intermodal Transport Fund Act (HB 148), legislation that allows Orange, Durham and Wake counties to generate new revenues for public transportation. These new revenues can include a one -half cent sales tax, if approved by the public through a referendum, as well as an additional $10 in local and regional vehicle registration fees. Over the last two years, Triangle Transit staff has worked with municipal, Orange County, the MPO and other regional transportation staff to develop a detailed, 25 -year plan for new bus and rail investments designed to provide greater transportation options for residents and employers. These investments would positively impact traffic congestion and air quality, and support local land use policies. This plan is the culmination of that collaboration and proposes crucial public investments and services to maintain our quality of life and economic vitality for the next 25 years. Extensive public engagement has occurred over the two years in the development of the bus and rail elements of this plan. In 2010 and 2011 Triangle Transit and local transportation staff members from municipalities, counties and MPOs conducted a series of 19 public workshops, at various locations throughout the Triangle, on the process and substance of the plan's development. A total of over 1,100 participants attended the meetings and they provided over 500 comments on the plan. Since that time, the project Web site, www.ourtransitfuture.com, was viewed by over 73,000 unique individuals. The Web site houses all of the presentation materials and proposed plan elements. Additionally, the DCHC MPO held five public workshops to receive input on the proposed plan in 2011. In spring 2012, the Orange County Board of Commissioners held two public hearings and two public workshops to provide opportunities for the public to ask questions and provide feedback on the proposed plan. There have been dozens of meetings with citizens, local elected officials, staff and members of the region's MPOs, community stakeholders and business leaders, allowing extensive feedback on the proposed bus and rail elements of the plan. The financial and service elements of this plan are coordinated with the adopted Durham County Bus and Rail Investment Plan. Additionally, this bus and rail investment plan builds on existing transit services and therefore does not eliminate or reduce the current financial and service commitments. 5/23/2012 - Page 14